Chapter 508: Supernovas (Part 3)

"Iceberg!"

"Franky!"

"Straw Hat Luffy!"

When Luffy's crew, Iceberg, and Franky returned to Water 7, they were welcomed with an outpouring of gratitude. The Straw Hat Pirates had saved Iceberg, who was a hero to Water 7.

Unfortunately, the Straw Hat crew didn't make an appearance. Their battle with CP9 had taken a toll, and after barely escaping the Buster Call's tsunami, they were completely exhausted, falling into a deep sleep for an entire day and night.

While they rested, Iceberg and Franky discussed building a new ship for the Straw Hats, which would later become the Thousand Sunny. This time, with the help of many allies, they used the world's strongest wood, Treasure Tree Adam, for the keel.

"This salt is pretty good." As Luffy and his crew rested, Daniel, after securing the Going Merry, also returned to Water 7.

Although he had the means to restore the Going Merry completely, or even enhance it, the ship could no longer carry the Straw Hats across the Grand Line. The Going Merry was, after all, originally meant for sailing within the East Blue.

"What brings you here? Shouldn't you be busy? Are you here to capture the Straw Hat Pirates?" Spotting Aokiji once again in Water 7, Daniel couldn't help but sigh as he tossed the latest newspaper in Aokiji's direction.

The paper contained no mention of Akatsuki but featured a clear image of the Straw Hats burning the World Government's flag on Enies Lobby—one of Daniel's photos. The paper also reported the Navy's failed attempt to apprehend the Straw Hats with a Buster Call and their defeat of CP9, which skyrocketed the bounties of the entire crew, making them the top supernova group.

Initially, Daniel's interference had prevented Luffy from gaining the infamy typically required to join the ranks of supernovas with bounties over a hundred million berries, but this incident made up for it.

"Do you know about Akatsuki?" Aokiji ignored the paper Daniel had thrown his way. He had already read it, and while there was no mention of Akatsuki or his own confrontation with the group, he took this as further proof that Akatsuki was deliberately stirring things up. He even suspected Akatsuki had leaked the story directly to Big News Morgans, who thrived on creating sensation, as he would later with Luffy's rise as the "Fifth Emperor."

The Straw Hat Pirates were an especially unusual group, not least because of Luffy himself. With ties to Garp, the Revolutionary Dragon, and Shanks, even Fleet Admiral Sengoku found them troublesome.

If the Summit War had been about executing Luffy instead of Ace, the conflict would likely have escalated. After all, Garp's reaction to his biological grandson's execution would have been vastly different from his reaction to Ace.

"Of course I know Akatsuki. They invited me to join a few years back, but as an unknown organization, I wasn't interested. The one who approached me had rather unusual abilities, though."

"Are you certain you didn't join?" Aokiji asked, watching Daniel intently.

"Absolutely." Daniel held Aokiji's gaze unflinchingly. Technically, he wasn't lying. Akatsuki had been virtually unknown until now, and it was still only in its infancy, a tool to keep the Navy second-guessing.

"Alright, forget it." Aokiji hesitated, then dismissed the subject.

"The Straw Hats are here in Water 7. You think if I hand them over, I'd earn a decent bounty?"

"You plan to capture my grandson?"

Before Aokiji could respond, a booming voice interrupted them. An old man wearing a dog-themed mask strode over with two younger sailors in tow.

"So, the Navy hero Vice Admiral Garp himself! Quite an honor to meet you in person." Daniel was taken aback by Garp's presence but quickly understood why Aokiji had returned to Water 7.

"You're after my grandson?" Garp stepped in front of Daniel, his tone more than a little hostile. He'd always had a low opinion of the Warlords of the Sea; Mihawk was perhaps the only exception. To him, working with the World Government marked pirates as a special kind of traitor.

"As a Warlord, capturing pirates is part of my agreement with the government. Since your grandson and his crew are pirates, there's no reason I can't capture them. Or are you saying you'd stand in the way of my lawful duty, Vice Admiral Garp?"

"Hmph, always knew pirates were scum. But my grandson isn't someone you can capture so easily."

"True, pirates are indeed scum. Your grandson seems keen to join their ranks and become the Pirate King. It's baffling why anyone would want to become a 'King of Scum.' Still, it's his choice."

Daniel's comment left one of Garp's younger companions, Helmeppo, barely containing his laughter.

"Damn that red-haired brat," Garp grumbled as Daniel walked away. If not for Shanks, Luffy would never have pursued this pirate dream, let alone aspire to be the "King of Pirates." Although Garp was far more inclined to throw a punch at Daniel, his status as a Warlord meant he couldn't act impulsively.

"Next up is Gecko Moria. Time to prepare for Whitebeard Junior's ascension, I suppose." As Daniel left Garp, a cold smile crossed his face.

With Blackbeard dead, the Warlord lineup wouldn't change anytime soon, even if Moria lost to Luffy. But Daniel had other plans. To set Whitebeard Jr. up as a Warlord, he would need Moria's spot. Only then would Zephyr's turn against the Navy become inevitable. Though Daniel felt a twinge of guilt toward Zephyr, this was necessary to show him the true face of the Navy and the World Government.

Arranging Whitebeard Jr.'s ascension would be simple; his greedy mother would jump at the chance if Daniel dropped hints about the benefits of Warlord status. Given Whitebeard Jr.'s monstrous strength—he'd been called a "monster" by Kizaru himself—a few nudges were all it would take.

"Let's go." After wandering Water 7 for two days, Daniel's group prepared to leave. Esther, anxious to return and continue honing her chakra abilities, hurried them along.

They traveled by ship, though this was a mere cover. In reality, they used the portal of their Secrecy Gate to return directly to their hidden island base.

"Akame, this is the Suke Suke no Mi. Chelsea, this is the Doa Doa no Mi. Kurome, you may need to wait a bit longer for a suitable fruit." As Esther and the others resumed their training on the island, Daniel and Robin took a detour to the ruins of Ohara. There, the remnants of the Tree of Knowledge remained.

"Who are you two? Nico Robin… and Warlord Daniel! You have a lot of nerve! Do you know who I am? Do you know who my father is?" When they freed Spandam, his initial fear turned into arrogance as he recognized Robin, but his gloating ended abruptly with a pained scream.

Eight conjured arms crushed his limbs, the snap of bone followed by his wailing. Spandam, the pampered son of Spandine, had never experienced such pain.

"We know who your father is. Don't worry; he'll join you soon enough. Not just him—the Navy's Fleet Admiral Sengoku will join you as well."

Daniel had once respected Sengoku and Garp, but now, he found himself standing against them. Garp's case was different, but Sengoku's role in the Buster Call on Ohara sealed his fate as far as Daniel was concerned.

"Are you both insane?" Spandam somehow mustered the strength to shout, despite his agonizing injuries—a testament to the resilience of bodies in the pirate world.

"Insane? You'll find out soon enough. And don't think anyone's coming to rescue you. To the World Government, you died during the Buster Call on Enies Lobby. No one knows you're still alive."

"Don't worry, we'll keep you alive. At least until your father arrives." With that, Daniel knocked him unconscious.

After paying respects to Robin's mother, Nico Olvia, and the scholars of Ohara, Daniel and Robin returned to the base.

"Let's go fetch Leone," Daniel said, ready to leave for Akame ga Kill with Chelsea. Akame also expressed a desire to visit her old world, and although Kurome was reluctant, she followed her sister's lead. Esther, however, had no interest in returning.

"Najenda's governance seems to be going well." Compared to the oppressive past, the capital now bustled with genuine prosperity, its citizens finally bearing true smiles.

"Chelsea, Akame, it's been so long!" Upon hearing of Akame and Chelsea's return, Najenda gathered the remaining Night Raid members for a reunion.

"It's good you're here. I was just wondering how to get in touch with you. I have an announcement to make." With everyone gathered, Najenda officially announced her engagement to Lubbock, marking a rare moment of celebration for Night Raid's surviving members.

The group spent the night in joyous revelry.

For several days, they continued to stay together, but Daniel was absent for most of it, busy with his own tasks.

"A large body without sufficient strength is nothing more than a target."

Daniel's task involved hunting Danger

 Beasts to prepare artificial Zoans. Many of the Danger Beasts in Akame ga Kill had unique abilities.

However, Daniel soon realized that the Empire's founding emperor might have already hunted down the most formidable Danger Beasts, as he couldn't find anything akin to the creatures that had inspired Teigu like Shambhala or the Ice Teigu that shaped Esdeath's powers.

Nevertheless, Daniel made significant gains, capturing flying and dragon-type Danger Beasts, albeit technically sub-species.

"If I sold these to Kaido, I bet he'd love them. As a self-styled dragon, he's particularly fond of dragon-type Zoans, even if they're subspecies."

Naturally, Daniel avoided Danger Beasts with overly large bodies. While Professor Fashion might enjoy these forms, he knew that they were impractical in a sea battle, where they'd be easy targets.

"Take good care of her. And remember, if you mistreat Chelsea, I'll have something to say about it." As Daniel gathered his specimens, Chelsea had successfully convinced Leone to join them.

"It's not exactly safe where we're going. Don't blame me if you die out there," Daniel warned her.

"I owe my life to you. I don't mind if it ends there; this place doesn't need me anymore." Thanks to Najenda, the Empire's slums had been eliminated, and the capital was flourishing.

"Well then, Najenda, farewell."

"Once things here are completely stable, maybe I'll come by and visit. Would I be welcome?"

"Of course you would."

"Leone, here's your Zoan Fruit—modeled after the Hundred-Beast King transformation. It's technically a Mythical Zoan. Would you like this one, or is there something else you'd prefer?"

Upon returning to the secret base, Daniel presented Leone with the Zoan crafted from her former power, the Hundred-Beast King transformation. Chelsea had already briefed her on Devil Fruits.

"This one, definitely." Leone accepted the familiar transformation without hesitation.

"Chelsea, Akame, and the others will teach you the rest," Daniel continued, assigning them to help Leone train in chakra, Rokushiki techniques, and Haki. Even Chelsea had already mastered the basics.

"Perfect. Once I've mastered this, I'll challenge her again," Leone grinned, her eyes alight with excitement. The memory of Esdeath's overwhelming aura still haunted her, but now she finally saw a path to match her strength.

"Poor Gecko Moria. Kaido's defeat has completely broken his will." Not long after Leone arrived, Daniel received news of a clash between Luffy and Moria.

At Thriller Bark, Daniel watched Luffy's shadow-fueled fight against Moria and shook his head. Like Crocodile, Moria had been terrified out of ambition after his defeat in the New World, causing his strength to regress over the years.

Had he retained his fighting spirit from those days, Luffy's Shadow-Asgard form might not have stood a chance.

---

Author's Note: The monsters under Shiki the Golden Lion only grew large due to special drugs, not natural abilities. Very few of them actually possessed unique powers.

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